Trial on Pacific Grove CalPERS case delayed

A court showdown between Pacific Grove and its police unions over pensions will be delayed.

Both sides in a suit filed in 2010 by unions representing police officers and police managers have agreed to postpone a February trial date.

The police groups contend the city improperly adopted, without conferring with the unions, an ordinance that caps the city's annual pension contribution to 10 percent of an employee's salary. The move came after a citizens' petition drive to put the measure on the ballot.

The suit also contends a November 2010 ballot measure to square the pension cap with the city charter violates the charter.

The case had been scheduled for trial Feb. 25. But the trial was delayed after a meeting last week. A weekly news summary posted on the city website said the meeting with all parties was "positive and collaborative."

Significant progress was made, so both sides recommended postponement of the trial date until April 15 to provide "an opportunity to bring the discussions to successful resolution," the website said.

On a related issue, the city is sponsoring its second community meeting Wednesday with attorney Karol Denniston regarding the state Public Employees Retirement System, or CalPERS, and Pacific Grove.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Pacific Grove Community Center, 515 Junipero Ave. Denniston is working with the city and a citizens group seeking to invalidate a 2002 City Council decision that gave public safety employees a controversial, high-cost pension package.